Alright, here's another chapter, because I don't believe in keeping a buffer, apparently. Consider it a New Years day present!
Chapter 2: Prerequisites
When one finds themselves suddenly facing down a massive fire breathing monster with the power to effortlessly destroy you there's any number of ways to respond. Running can be a good idea if you have somewhere safe to go to. The same can be said for hiding. Attacking could be fun if you have a death wish, I suppose, but I can't say I feel inclined to die so soon after arriving in the land of my childhood dreams.
That said, once it sinks in that this is Reshiram I'm looking at, I don't exactly go out of my way to run or hide either. Instead, when faced by a giant bird lizard… thing, I find my mind jumps to Jurassic Park of all things. I stop moving. Completely. Just freeze up in my little private corner of the room. Is Reshiram's vision based on movement? Probably not, but I'm panicking so logical thought isn't really a priority at the moment.
And so I think I can be forgiven for spending as long as I do staring up at the Legendary Pokémon taking up half the room before I realize that we aren't alone here. There are two people in here as well, a boy with green hair, and a girl with the biggest ponytail I've ever seen in my life, both looking to be around twenty years old.
First thought that comes to mind: hair goals. Seriously, I've got a pretty full head of hair but compared to these two I feel bald. The guy's ponytail has to be three times bigger than mine. And the girl has hers tied up in a way that almost seems to defy gravity. If I wasn't scared shitless of the giant dragon I'd totally ask them for tips right now.
Second thought that comes to mind is that I'm looking at a scene straight out of a video game. This is N, and the female protagonist from the games. And N is giving his big speech on how he's the chosen one or whatever.
Golett seems to sense that whatever N is talking about is important, because he stays very quiet as the speech is going on. But the little goober doesn't seem to realize just how terrified I am, because as I stand petrified he starts waving his arms to get Reshiram's attention. Apparently he figures being respectful is no reason to hold back on the friendliness.
It takes a moment, Reshiram's attention being firmly fixated on N at first. But after a lot of waving, the dragon finally glances over to regard Golett. To my surprise, its expression warms considerably from the cold regard it showed until now. But that shouldn't actually be surprising, should it? Now that I think about it, these two are totally neighbors. Roommates, even. Makes sense they'd get along.
I feel hands tugging at my belt, drawing me from my reflection just in time to notice as Golett pulls his Poké Ball from my belt and gestures happily to it, before pointing to me. I guess he's telling Reshiram that he just found a trainer.
Reshiram turns its interest to me at Golett's urging, and I feel what small comfort I had gained in the situation evaporate. I meet Reshiram's bright blue eyes with my hazel ones. Reshiram cocks it head curiously. I wave stiffly, knowing my fear is plain for anyone to see but unable to do anything about it. And Reshiram, seeing how uncomfortable I am, snorts in amusement.
And just like that the moment is over. Reshiram turns its attention back to N, its new trainer. It lowers its head for N, who climbs on oblivious to what just happened between the Dragon and myself. The young man still has eyes only for Protagonist Girl, even as he sits atop one of the most powerful Pokémon in the world.
"We'll meet again at the Pokémon League, Hilda!" N calls out, voice resounding clearly from his new friend's back. "Me with Reshiram, and you with Zekrom! Seek out the Dark Stone, and face me! It will be my final trial for the sake of a better world for all Pokémon! I will defeat you, and prove to all the world that my truth is absolute!"
There's an explosion of flame as Reshiram blasts off through a massive hole in the wall leading outside. A wave of heat rushes through the room, blowing my hair back and forcing my arms up to protect my face. Across the room I can see the girl doing the same thing, staggering as the wave of heat rushes over her.
After a while the air finally settles, and I'm left standing alone in the room with the girl. A part of me wants to say something, but there's not a lot a person can really do to follow up on a declaration like that.
Hilda seems to have an idea though, picking up a rock from the ground and hurling it out the tower. She stares blankly out into space, then picks up another rock and hurls it. Then another, then another. As she goes on the rocks start getting larger and larger, until she heaves a stone almost the size of her head outside. No small feat for her slender frame, and it shows as she slumps at the opening, panting for air. She concludes by lifting her head and yelling out into open air: "I JUST WANTED TO BE IN A STUPID TOURNAMENT! GET A FEW GYM BADGES, SEE THE WORLD! NOT! THIS!"
"Golett…" Golett croons soothingly, reaching up to pat the girl on the arm. Which catches me completely off guard, since I hadn't realized he'd left my side in the first place.
Hilda doesn't see the little guy coming any more than I did, and jumps nearly a foot in the air. "Ah! What the heck!" She steps back, trips over another rock, and lands on her butt. "Ow! Come on, really?" She groans, rubbing at her backside a moment before giving in and collapsing onto her back. "That's it! I'm done! Final straw!"
Yeah, she's clearly having a day. And I guess it's now my duty as Golett's trainer to take responsibility for making it worse. I walk over, stepping my way around collapsed pillars and displaced stones. My approach doesn't go unnoticed though, with the girl calling out, with an arm thrown dramatically over her eyes, "Cheren, if that's you, I am not in a mood for your shit right now. Keep the comments to yourself!"
"Golett go?" Golett asks in a confused tone, looking over to me.
"She's upset because you startled her, maybe give her some space little dude." I comment, turning to the girl, "Hey, uhh… I'm not Cheren. Never met anyone by that name before."
The girl drops her arm and sits up abruptly, staring suspiciously at me from the floor. "…You Team Plasma?"
"What?" I blink in surprise. "Girl, do I look like I'm wearing their stupid bargain bin knight getup?"
She snorts at that, before growing visibly suspicious once more. "If you aren't Team Plasma, what the heck are you doing here? This place didn't even have an entrance until those jerks blew a hole in the wall a few hours ago."
"As far as I can tell, I was teleported." I shrug uneasily. "I was just minding my own business grocery shopping half an hour ago. But then there was this bright light, and I started floating, and suddenly… poof! Here I am."
She squints suspiciously at me for a few moments, then pulls a Poké Ball from her belt. "Aspar, you mind helping me for a second?"
There's a flash of light, and a Duosion appears. "Your request?" I hear a voice in my head ask. It sounds like some sort of stereotypical butler character, which I would find very amusing if I wasn't wigging out over the telepathy thing. It's really weird to describe, like I'm hearing the words but also… not? I think it's the same part of my brain interpreting it or something, but it's got this sort of uncanny feeling to it because my ears haven't actually registered anything.
"Can you see if this guy has any signs of psychics messing with him?"
The Duosion turns to me, glowing faintly. "Very well… oh…" I blink in surprise as the Pokémon shudders, its weird slime coating wobbling like gelatin. "Yes. Several. Recently. All very powerful." It turns back to its trainer, still looking shaky. "I would like to go back now."
Hilda blinks slowly, staring at her Pokémon in bewilderment. "Did you just… speak in a complete sentence?"
"Hilda. Please." The Duosion shudders again.
"Uhh, yeah, sure." Hilda replies shakily, fumbling for the Poké Ball. "Thanks for the hand." Aspar disappears in a burst of red light. Golett makes a disappointed noise, no doubt having wanted to befriend the newcomer and sad to have missed his chance. Hilda pats him on the shoulder distractedly, staring at me thoughtfully. "Well, I'm not sure what that was about, but I guess that means your story at least partly checks out? I'll take your word that you've got nothing to do with this disaster."
"Thanks for that." I nod, holding a hand out. "So, I'm Ben, and this is… this is Golett, we haven't workshopped nicknames yet."
"Hilda." She replies, taking my hand and using me to pull herself back to her feet. "Nice to meet you both."
"Yeah, heard that other guy say your name before he flew off." I reply, turning to the massive hole in the wall. "I kinda got dumped in the middle of a whole… thing, huh?"
"Don't remind me." Hilda says flatly. "Seriously, I've had my full of Team Plasma crap for the day. I just… don't want to talk about it."
"Fair enough." I shrug. Personally I'm perfectly happy to not get involved, since I'm pretty much a total rookie at the moment. I clearly have no business getting involved with plot stuff… and I honestly really don't want to anyways? But I figure Hilda won't appreciate hearing this since she seems to be stuck in the middle of it all, so I keep all this to myself.
"Golett! Go let Golett go go!" Golett says, patting Hilda on the leg. He brandishes his Poké Ball, still holding it from when he was playing show and tell with Reshiram, and strikes some kind of goofy action pose.
"Oh, that's… nice?" Hilda replies uncertainly, looking to me for an explanation.
"Not sure, sorry." I throw up my hands helplessly. "I've been Golett's trainer for like… five minutes tops. We've still got a lot to figure out."
"Oh, wow!" Hilda brightens a bit. "Well, congratulations! Golett are really great Pokémon once you get past the early bumps in training them. I was thinking about trying to get one for my team, but you barely ever see them outside of the tower, and until recently, getting in was… not really an option."
"Uhh, thanks." I reply, looking down at Golett fondly, but with a bit of trepidation. "I'll be honest, I don't really know what I'm doing here. I'm not exactly experienced as a trainer, I just met and we… kinda clicked."
"I figured." Hilda nods. "Your clothes all look pretty new. Decided to take up training as a hobby recently?"
"I'm… not sure?" I say slowly, as my mind races for an explanation. "I'm… kinda between jobs right now, and training's always been a dream of mine, so… clothes, I guess? And then I got teleported and met this little guy and found that Poké Ball on the ground, and… well. I wasn't exactly planning anything definitive. This just kinda… happened." I shrug helplessly.
"Huh…" Hilda replies, staring at me thoughtfully. "Well, you've got some training at least. You need a Pokédex to even catch a Golett, and you can't get those easily. I should know. Can I see yours?"
"My Pokédex?" I reply uncertainly. "Uhh… sure, I guess?" I pull the device out of my chest pocket and show it to her.
She whistles appreciatively as she looks it over, "Dang. This is a pretty old model. Looks like new though. You must have been taking really good care of it."
"Well, it is a Pokédex." I shrug, thinking fast. "I may not have used it much since I got my license, but I'm still going to treat it properly."
"Apparently." Hilda replies, looking the machine over. "Seriously, I haven't seen this model since I first started working for Professor Juniper, and that was when I was, like, twelve."
I nod absentmindedly, trying to place exactly which design I seem to have. I want to say… Heart Gold? Maybe? Usually the designs are loosely based off of Nintendo handhelds, but this one, despite having dual screens, looks more like a flip phone than a DS. "I hadn't really thought of it before." I reply honestly, feeling a bit lost. Would really like to get back to civilization so I can start researching all this important shit in peace.
"That's fair." Hilda replies, passing the Pokédex back. "Well, if you're having trouble figuring out this whole trainer thing, I'd be happy to help you. We can go to the Pokémon Center in Icirrus City for the night, and get all this figured out tomorrow. You'll have to check Golett in anyways, so they can figure out if you need an Everstone or not."
I nod in agreement, while trying to figure out what she's talking about. Could this be related to the Tier thing? I know when I caught Golett the Pokédex said he was Tier One. Maybe Golurk is a higher Tier, so you need an Everstone to stop it from evolving if the trainer isn't qualified? So the checkup isn't just for health stuff, it's also to make sure I don't suddenly find myself owning a ten foot colossus before I'm ready for the responsibility. Seems like a good theory for now.
"Sounds like a plan." I reply. "You know the way out of here?"
"Better than you, I'm sure." Hilda snorts. "I actually had to climb up here, unlike you."
"Jealous much?" I tease.
"I can admit to that." She shrugs in reply, leading the way to the stairs. "Do you have any idea how many steps I had to climb to get up here? And I was stuck battling Team Plasma goons the whole way. I'm ready for bed."
"Same here." I nod along. "Sooner the better."
That's when several dozen trainers come rushing up the steps, yelling frantically. At their head is a dark haired young man with glasses and a blue jacket, looking very worried. "Hilda! Team Plasma's escaped! And we saw some sort of white Pokémon flying away from below. Was that…" He trails off as he looks at me, completely bewildered. "Wait, who is this?"
Hilda and I exchange a weary look, the both of us realizing as one that sleep will be coming later rather than sooner.
It turns out stumbling across the King of a terrorist/revolutionary movement at the moment he befriends one of the most powerful Pokémon in a region is grounds for a shitload of paperwork. I have to give statements to the local Pokémon Rangers and the Police, both about my teleportation and what I saw at the top of Dragonspiral Tower. For a guy who still hasn't managed to research anything about the world he's landed in this is, to put it lightly, stressful as fuck. I manage to bullshit through it all somehow by giving only vague details on my life despite their prodding. They seem to let me get away with it, mostly because I'm able to provide plenty of detail about what I saw of N.
After several hours of questioning, I'm led to the Icirrus Pokémon Center not by Hilda, as originally planned, but by one of the Rangers. She sets me up with a room at the Center, has me leave Golett with the woman working reception, and leaves me to get some much needed sleep.
Though when I say sleep, I actually mean… internet. Transferred to an alternate dimension but I'm still falling into the exact same patterns. It's out of necessity this time though, so I think I should get a pass.
First thing I do is look up the tier system. And it proves… complicated. Tiers are assigned to Pokémon Trainers based on either passing a written exam or on badge counts. The more dangerous the Pokémon, the higher a tier you need to own it. Also of note is that you need to be at least Tier two to own a Pokédex, which means even more research so I can make sure I have at least a passable knowledge of the requirements for training at my level.
This is all basic though. The real confusing part comes from understanding which Pokémon fall under which Tier. The ranks aren't based off battle power, they're based on what sort of danger could come from accidents involving training. So, as an example, most fire, poison, and electric types are all considered Tier two minimum due to higher potential for injury from just working with them. Ground types are in a similar situation due to their tendency to cause property damage (with Golett being one of few notable exceptions). And most dark, ghost, and dragon types are Tier two because they're just… very prone to acting like assholes (Golett again being an exception to this rule).
Also notable: you can't own more than one of the more hazardous types without a tier three license unless you have an expert supervising your training. Which usually seems to involve gym leaders. So if I were to do the first thing that comes to my mind and try to collect a small army of poison types I have to wait until I have four badges. Or become a gym trainer, I guess, but that seems a bit… restrictive.
Though more immediate than the poison thing is the Pokémon I already have. Golett is tier one, due to being far more suited to a domestic lifestyle than most Pokémon. Apparently the cheerful attitude and general friendliness is a common trait for the species, not just for my new friend. But that's a deceptive ranking due to the fact that it's endangered. Apparently you need a Pokédex registered to capture one in the wild, hence those restrictions my Pokédex was chiming about when I caught the little guy. So while you can feasibly own a Golett as a Tier One trainer if you know somebody with the means to give you one, the facts are a bit deceptive on that one.
Still, while I'm certainly lucky to own Golett legally, thanks to the magic bureaucrat, I'm going to have to work damn hard if I want to see the little guy evolve. The rules are a bit lax with the relatively small and very friendly Golett, but the evolved and much larger Golurk is a whole different story. The species is tier four, minimum of eight badges in a single region required for legal ownership. As well as a League registered sponsor for emergency reasons. They're no less friendly than Golett, but they're also nearly ten feet tall at evolution and can cause minor earthquakes by walking. Safety is a bit more of a concern.
Could be worse though. If it was a tier five I'd be pretty screwed. Tier five Pokémon have individual tests based on species. Gyarados has its own test for legal ownership. Onix has its own test. Muk, Tyranitar, literally any fossil Pokémon, Exploud, Magmortar… there's a big list of walking natural disasters and Pokémon with highly specialized needs, and all of them require a huge, personalized test if you want to own one legally. Which would mean a shitload of studying and a lot of problems if the League were to discover my tier two license is based on the work of a magical bureaucrat rather than merit.
As it stands, to train Golett properly all I need is to keep doing what I was going to do already. And according to my research, to find a sponsor. Which could be really easy or really difficult depending on how I decide to approach it.
Sponsors are simple. You want to understand them, just look at the anime. Ash catches too many Pokémon, he sends the extras to Professor Oak. That makes the Professor Ash's sponsor. Any trainer who wants to be more than just a hobbyist needs one, because your Pokémon need somewhere to live other than the inside of a Poké Ball. Small species can get by just fine with like, an apartment or something. But proper trainers don't use a lot of those smaller species, and usually own enough Pokémon that a regular house would never cut it even if they did. It's simple ethics when it comes right down to it.
So that's easily one of the biggest things I need to worry about in the coming days. Right after figuring out supplies and what my financial situation might look like. The Magic Bureaucrat might have done a lot of the initial work for me in making my identity in this world, but clearly I have plenty I need to figure out on my own.
With this I have a proper game plan though. Brush up on my testing requirements, try to figure out how the economy around here works, and look at what options I have for sponsors.
Now, to start researching everything I can find about Golett…
I wake up to see my Pokégear teetering on the edge of my mattress, telling me that it's apparently… nine in the morning. By my standards that's practically sleeping in, but I can't actually remember when I nodded off, so who knows if I slept properly or not. I scoop up the device before it can fall off the bed and note the battery is getting low. Add charge cables to the list of essentials, I suppose. Along with clean underwear, because Ash's Mom knows her stuff; that's going to be super important in the near future.
As it stands, I'm forced to make do with the same clothing I was wearing yesterday for now. Since most of said clothing got pretty dirty from lying on the floor of Dragonspiral Tower, this leaves me… not quite grouchy, but certainly impatient for this shopping trip.
Only problem is, thanks to the police butting into everything, I never actually got a chance to set a time or place to be meeting with Hilda. Might have to wait around for a while. Or possibly take care of things myself… Actually that might be better, for a number of reasons. There's a couple of things I need to check on without other people around to watch. Like, say, my money situation. I clearly have some sort of bank account, but the funds I have need to have come from somewhere…
The Center has free continental breakfast, so I grab a bagel and eat as I wait at the line for the front counter. Figure I might as well make sure something productive is happening while I mull things over. There's probably some sort of online banking I can access, come to think of it. My Pokédex has to be finding my funds somehow. Means I won't have to worry about acting normally while at the bank. I doubt it'd be too different from my own world, but if they have anything different about their system and I'm not expecting it it's going to look suspicious as hell.
Mentally adding 'look up bank website' to the to-do list. Sucker's already getting stupid long.
One of the receptionists calls me forward, and I step up to the desk. "Hi, I left a Golett here last night, a fresh capture."
"Trainer ID please."
I hand over the ID and she types away at her computer. "Hmm… oh, this is your first Pokémon? You are getting a late start, aren't you?"
"It was kind of… a spur of the moment thing, I guess." I smile sheepishly. "Little guy practically captured himself."
"Themself."
"Huh?"
"Golett as a species don't have a sex." The receptionist looks to me with a critical eye. "So unless the Golett somehow stated preferences…"
"Oh… Oh shit, I didn't really think of that." I wince. "He- uh, they, really reminded me of myself when I was younger, so I guess I just kinda…"
The receptionist smiles thinly. "That sort of thing happens pretty often with trainers. It is entirely possible that your Golett is comfortable with how you refer to them, but we are instructed to remind trainers to verify with their Pokémon before habits become set. It's healthier for everyone involved."
"Yeah, I understand." I nod, feeling like a bit of a jerk. "I'll make sure to do that immediately."
"Wonderful." The woman beams at me, before turning back to her computer. "Now then, your Golett is the picture of health. That was to be expected though, since the species as a whole is all but immune to disease. Body shape seems well maintained, and energy outputs are very healthy for its age."
I nod along, thinking back to the knowledge I was able to retain after my half-awake study session last night. Golett are basically just clay bodies infused with ghost power, speaking purely from a biological standpoint. I think the term used is non-organic, easy enough to remember.
"Will this Golett be a personal companion, or are you planning to train with them?"
"Train." I reply without hesitation.
She seems almost surprised by that. "A really late start then." She murmurs to herself, before brightening up and addressing me again. "Alright, there are a few things I need to go over with you then. Usually the Golett species is capable of self-repair outside of battle, but yours isn't quite strong enough to do that. Their ability to fix any damage to their bodies is dependent on their ability to manipulate the earth, you see. Until your Golett is at a proper level you'll have to keep bringing them to a Pokémon Center to heal any damage. Potions won't cut it like they do with most Pokémon."
This must be what Hilda was talking about when she mentioned 'early bumps in training' yesterday. "Is there a way I can help speed up that process?"
"Any basic training techniques for ground types will work." She replies easily. "I'd recommend going north to the Moor personally, there's plenty of mud to work with up there this time of year. Once your Golett has a grasp of that your best bet is modelling clay."
"Huh." I nod along thoughtfully. I guess mud is easier to work with? That'd certainly line up with how ground type moves tend to work in the games. I send the receptionist a grateful smile, "I'll be sure to keep that in mind, thanks."
"You're very welcome." She replies with another beaming smile, and taps a few more keys. There's a low buzzing sound, and a Poké Ball appears in front of her. "The last thing I need to tell you is that your Golett will require an Everstone in approximately two years if you do not have a Tier 4 license by then. This is, of course, subject to change depending on circumstances. How they're trained and the healthiness of their energy output, as an example."
I blink at that… "What's the earliest you would say that could be a potential problem for me?"
She raises an eyebrow at that. "A trainer with experience raising Golett could potentially do it in a year or less. Since this is your first Pokémon it's likely to take two years minimum though. Honestly it'll probably be longer."
Two years until evolution. That's… disheartening, to say the least. But I guess this is the price that one has to pay for escaping the confines of video game logic. Well. Still worth it.
I thank the receptionist and she hands me Golett's Poké Ball and sends me on my way. Doesn't look like Hilda's here, so I grab another bagel and find a quiet seat in the corner to sit down. While I've got the time, I might as well figure some shit out.
First item on the list: sorting things out regarding that scolding the receptionist gave me earlier. Golett, as it turns out, does in fact prefer male pronouns, which helps me feel like a bit less of an asshole. He also seems to be taken with the Pokémon Center, likely in part because it has more people than he's ever seen in his life. Even in the corner we've placed ourselves in he seems overwhelmed, constantly swivelling around as he stares fascinated at all the people coming and going. More than a few times I have to hop out of my chair to stop him from running off to investigate something on his own.
Might have to get him some modelling clay today rather than trying the mud thing first. Even if he can't do anything special with it right now it could at least help keep him occupied.
"C'mon little dude, I know it's exciting but you can't be wandering off like that." I say sternly, leading Golett back from running to investigate a Gothitelle that was wandering nearby. Thankfully both the Pokémon and her trainer seemed to be familiar with this sort of behavior, because they laughed the incident off easily. The two are clearly veteran trainers; it shows plainly in the worn lines in the woman's face, as well as the scars on the Gothitelle's body. They've clearly been at this for a long time, which means they probably place high in tournaments on the regular.
The receptionist wasn't kidding when she said I was starting late as a trainer. From what I've seen most trainers start young. Not ten years old like everything says back home mind you, they have to be legal adults at least, which in this world means eighteen. The thing is though, in most cases whether a trainer can make it as a professional is decided in their first couple of years. Any trainer who can't place high in a tournament in their first couple of years training is generally encouraged to seek a different profession.
I'm losing focus again. Between Golett and my own need to seek out every scrap of information I can find on this world I'm barely managing to get anything done. Speaking of which, Golett is… restlessly fidgeting next to me, looking around the center lobby. Yeah, definitely need to get this guy something to play with, he's just too restless right now. I could return him to his Poké Ball of course, but he's so clearly fascinated by everything going on that it would feel like some sort of punishment. Plus, the sooner he can get used to seeing more people around the better.
"Just a little bit longer, alright bud?" I pat him on the shoulder. "If Hilda doesn't show up soon we'll head out on our own and do our best to figure things out without her."
"Golett!" He nods, eager to please, and goes back to fidgeting.
I poke around online for a little bit longer, and decide eventually to look up my bank's website. The Royal Unovan Coffers. Weird name for a bank, but the magic bureaucrat hasn't steered me wrong so far. I'm sure my money will be secure enough if this is the go to bank of what has to be some kind of wizard.
And the wizard's ways hold weight! Not only does the bank have a working website, I'm able to access it with the fourth password on my usual list. From there I can look over my financial information, and figure out exactly where my money's coming from, if anywhere.
"Holy shit, the magic bureaucrat really does think of everything." I mutter after a moment of searching. "Crazy magician gave me a full financial background. I'll have to try to track this sucker down when Poké Tax Season rolls around next."
The account has withdrawals going back for years, mostly listed at grocery stores and restaurants. Which is an absurd attention to detail that has me wondering how much time the magic bureaucrat has on their hands. The account also has the same entry for all money coming in: a construction company by the name of Triad Industrial. Last paycheck received was… just under two weeks ago.
I look up the company. Seems to be legitimate, with a very professional looking website and a fancy logo with a Hydreigon. They mostly operate in Castelia, but are apparently behind the work being done in the Desert Resort area. They have on site accommodations for employees as well, which provides me an easy answer should anyone ask where I've been living recently. That'll probably be important if the police follow up with me about the whole 'Team Plasma' thing.
A part of me wants to try calling the company just to see how deep the rabbit hole goes, but that seems too much like tempting fate. Better to just leave it be, so I don't start anybody else asking the same questions I've been asking since I found my redecorated wallet.
"Um, excuse me?" A voice calls out, distracting me from my browsing.
I look up to see a girl standing nearby. She's dressed in all oranges and whites, save for the green hat that seems to just barely keep her thick blonde hair contained. She looks nervous, head tilted down as if she's afraid to say anything. "Are you Ben?"
"That's my name, yeah." I raise an eyebrow. "Can I help you?"
Her expression brightens. "I'm actually here to help you! My name is Bianca, I'm Hilda's friend."
"Oh!" I blink in surprise, realizing this is another character from the games I'm talking to. I hadn't actually recognized her at first, though it seems obvious now that she's introduced herself. The hat really should have tipped me off. "Well, it's nice to meet you. Did something happen to Hilda?"
Bianca waves her hands emphatically. "Oh, no! She's fine, she's just… sleeping."
"Sleeping." I reply flatly.
"I know that sounds bad, but it's really not her fault! She was with the Police and the Pokémon Rangers all night. She didn't get back to the Pokémon Center until really early this morning." Bianca explains, "But when she got back to our room she mentioned helping you today, so I offered to take her place."
"They kept her all night?" I blink in surprise. "I got out of there at like, ten. Why the heck would they hold her for so long?"
"Uhh… I'm not sure she'd want me telling a stranger about that." Bianca frowns. "Sorry."
"No, that's fair." I shrug, getting to my feet. "Anyways, you've met me, and this is Golett. We haven't had a good chance to figure out the nickname situation for him yet."
"Golett!" Golett chirps cheerfully, holding up a hand for Bianca to shake. She returns the handshake enthusiastically.
"Oh my gosh you are just the sweetest thing, hello!" Bianca grins down at Golett, then looks up at me. "So, what exactly am I helping you with?"
"Hilda didn't tell you?"
"She was pretty much dead on her feet when she mentioned you. I figured I should just let her sleep."
I think back to Hilda's expression when I first met her. That mixture of exhaustion and anger. "Yeah. Yeah, she could probably use it." I nod thoughtfully. "We're going shopping. I've decided to take up Pokémon training, as of yesterday. I have an idea of what I might need, but Hilda was going to help me flesh out my list."
"Oh!" Bianca grins. "I can totally help with that! I've been travelling across Unova with Hilda for months, so I'm pretty much an expert."
"Whether you are or aren't, I'm sure you'll know more than me." I reply with a grin. "Any advice you can give shall be greatly appreciated."
As it turns out, Bianca has a ton of help to provide. Her shopping list isn't much more robust than my own, but her knowledge of this world is essential to smoothing out the process. She knows all the most reliable brands. She knows what extra features are essential on the road. And most importantly, she's far more up to date on what this world is capable of providing.
My new bag is a good example of this. The thing has the same storage technology as Poké Balls have got, so I'm able to put the really big stuff, like cookware or my tent, in the bag without taking up a ton of space or weighing myself down.
By the end of the day my bank account is down a couple hundred thousand Pokédollars, but I'm feeling much more prepared to face the world I've landed in. And that has me feeling appreciative. So I go back to the Pokémon Center with Bianca, get her to drag Hilda out of her room, and buy the two of them dinner. Sushi, at Hilda's request.
"I can't remember the last time I had Basculin sashimi." Hilda groans appreciatively, clearing through our first tray almost singlehandedly. Bianca and I can only stare in awe, unable to keep up with her pace. I'm still reorienting myself with proper chopstick technique, while Bianca has apparently never used them before.
"Are you sure you're okay with paying for all this, Ben?" Bianca looks over nervously, fumbling with her chopsticks. "This place isn't very cheap."
"Not cheap, no." I shrug, fixing my grip. "Ah. There we go. It's not cheap, but it's not going to ruin me. And this is a special occasion. I'm becoming a trainer now! I think that's good cause to celebrate."
"I'll drink to that!" Hilda grins.
"Not on my dime, you won't." I shoot back. "Food is one thing, booze is another. I don't care if you're legal age, I'm not buying alcohol."
"Easy there, old man! I was just kidding." She replies in a tone that seems to imply she definitely wasn't entirely joking. "The sushi is plenty, seriously." She snaps up another piece and pops it into her mouth, smiling blissfully. "I needed this."
Bianca's giving Hilda a worried look, so I distract her by showing her the proper way to hold her chopsticks. Doesn't seem like the time or place to be getting confrontational. Hilda is clearly still upset about what happened yesterday, but she's not doing anything stupid about it. So I see no problem letting it be.
When the waiter comes with our second tray Hilda decides to try her luck by asking for a beer. I immediately tell the waiter to keep the alcohol on a separate bill. If she's disappointed by this she doesn't show it; laughing it off easily. Despite my worries she doesn't drink much, only asking for a single refill over the course of the night. She's mostly full by the time we've finished the second tray, leaving Bianca and I to handle the third one ourselves while she nurses her drink.
Hilda gets the leftovers; a gift for Ronin, her Samurott. None of Bianca's Pokémon are big fish eaters, and Golett doesn't eat anything, since he runs on ghost energy. Plus I figure if Ronin is half as stressed out as his trainer seems to be, he could probably use the treat.
"You know something?" Hilda says as we walk back to the Pokémon Center. "This is what it was all for."
"That seems like a very powerful statement to be making about sushi, no matter how good it was." I reply bemusedly, wondering to myself just how bad her alcohol tolerance must be. Bianca giggles beside me.
"No, that's not what I mean!" Hilda protests indignantly. "I mean, just… this!" She throws her hands wide. "Meeting new people, having fun, seeing the world! That's why Ronin and I set out. That's why we left Nuvema town."
"I just wanted to figure out who I was." Bianca says quietly. "I always had people telling me what I was going to do with my life. Telling me what I was good for, and what I was meant to do. But I never really had the chance to explore for myself."
"I always wanted to be a trainer." Hilda shrugs, "To be a champion. Maybe even The Champion. But I haven't even got my eighth badge, and just… This is all so much more than I signed up for. All this Team Plasma crap, and that asshole getting me roped in to his delusions, and it feels like everybody's just… going along with it!"
"That loon yelling about Reshiram and Zekrom, you mean?" I look over at her curiously. "Why's he so crazy about you anyways?"
Hilda groans loudly. "I don't know! It's not like I'm anything special! I mean, I like to think I'm a good trainer, but I'm not anywhere near his level, so I'm not sure why he gets so worked up about it!"
"He's that tough?" I say, taken aback. He never seemed that tough in the games…
"I've battled him with my team four times." Hilda says sullenly. "All four times he was using some random Pokémon he'd met in the area. Just wild Pokémon with no proper training." She sighs and looks up into the sky. "He crushed me. All four times."
"That's not true!" Bianca protests. "I saw the last time you fought him, it was really close!"
"Bianca." Hilda gives her friend a flat look. "He knocked out Ronin, Lola, and Dust with a wild Klink."
"Cole beat it in the end though! And that Ferroseed he fought with afterwards!"
"Point is, I lost. I've lost every time he battled us." Hilda grumbles. "Maybe that's why he wants me to fight him with Zekrom. So he'll have an easy victory."
"If that was all he wanted, he'd have gone after me." I say with an amused snort. "I was right there in the room with you two."
"I doubt he even knew you were there." Hilda rolls her eyes.
"Reshiram knew." I reply. "Looked right at me. I think its friends with Golett or something."
"Really?" Bianca exclaims curiously, looking at the Poké Ball on my belt in interest.
"Probably." I shrug. "They did live in the same tower, after all. Though from what I've seen Golett is definitely friendly enough to be friendly with a Legendary Pokémon even if they were a stranger."
"No kidding." Hilda replies with a smile. "He scared the crap out of me yesterday."
"You were upset." I explain. "And Golett seeks to be the antithesis of sadness."
"Does he really?" Hilda grins.
"Probably." I shrug again, "Not like I can really understand him yet. I'm as rookie as it gets. I've never even been in a Pokémon battle before."
"Geez." Hilda says with a low whistle. "You sure you want to go pro like that?"
A fair question. It's certainly true that I have a lot that could hold me back as a Pro Trainer in this world. I lack the background everyone else here does, and there's no way that won't show. Still… "I'm sure." I reply firmly. "I've never been more sure of anything in my life. This has been something I've dreamed about for all my life. I just… never had a real chance before now. Now that I do have that chance I'd have to be a fucking idiot to let it slip me by."
"Well I hope it works out for you." Hilda replies. "I could give you some pointers if you'd like. I'm planning to wait a while before I get my last badge, so I can stick around here for a while. Can't help with the battling thing too much though. All of my Pokémon are… way above your level, frankly. Wouldn't be any good as practice for either of us."
"Actually…" Bianca says thoughtfully. "I might be able to help with that."
Hilda blinks at that. "Wait, what? No. Absolutely not Bianca, I know you're still behind Cheren and I on badges, but your team is way past the rookie level!"
"No, really, I think I can help!" Bianca says eagerly. She runs a little ways ahead, to the Pokémon Center at the end of the street. "I'm gonna go see if I can book a training field from the Center!"
"This isn't going to end well." Hilda mutters, watching Bianca vanish into the Center.
"Maybe not…" I muse. "But I'm willing to give her a shot. She was already really helpful today. I'd say she's got a good track record."
"I guess…" Hilda says, looking uncertain.
We enter the center looking towards the front counter. Bianca is bowing her head to a beaming receptionist. She whirls to face us as we walk in, giving us a thumbs up with a beaming grin. "Mission accomplished!" She proclaims triumphantly. "They had a slot open for seven in the morning tomorrow!"
"Seven!?" Hilda exclaims indignantly. "That's crazy!"
"That's probably the only thing available on such short notice." I shrug, not particularly bothered by the early wake up. "So we'll meet here in the lobby then?"
"Ten minutes before!" Bianca grins, "We have to make the most of our time! I'm going to help you and your Golett get in perfect sync!"
"How?" Hilda groans. "You have six badges. Ben has been in zero battles."
"You'll see!" Bianca grins, heading towards the back of the Center. "I'm gonna go to my room and prepare. See you tomorrow Ben, thanks for the sushi!"
Hilda frowns as Bianca disappears. "I'd better follow her. Make sure she actually has a proper plan. I love Bianca dearly, but she doesn't always think things through when she gets excited."
"I'm sure it'll be fine." I say with a grin. "I'm sure that me and Golett will find this inevitable ass kicking to be very educational."
"Will you really?" Hilda replies drily. "Well, whatever. Don't say I didn't warn you." She follows after Bianca at a sedate pace. "See you in the morning."
"I'm sure she's overreacting."
"Golett!"
"Bianca was super helpful today, after all."
"Go! Golett go!"
"She's a very nice girl. She wouldn't do anything to hurt us."
"Let go Golett go Golett go."
I turn to my partner curiously. "So, are you actually responding to me? Or are we both having separate conversations with ourselves right now? Because I'm trying, but I seriously can't understand a word you're saying."
"Golett." Golett replies, looking up at me from the modelling clay he's playing with. It's spectacularly unhelpful.
I huff in frustration. "I need to look into catching a psychic type."
"Golett!"
I pat Golett on the shoulder fondly. "Tell you what. Let's change the subject. We need to talk nicknames. I'm not sure if you have some sort of proper name in Golett-speak, but I don't think I can really speak Golett language, so it'd be helpful to have something to call you. That sound like something you're interested in?"
"Golett." Golett says thoughtfully, before doing one of his weird little bow/nod things. "Golett!"
"Cool." I nod along. "So let's talk it through then. What should we call you…?" I look him up and down. "You kinda look like a robot. Something robot related, maybe?"
"Golett?"
I recognize the intent behind that tone. "Oh, a robot is like… a machine that thinks." Golett stares blankly at me. "It's like, a person made out of metal. People make a fake person out of metal, and it's called a robot."
"Go. Golett go let go." Golett replies… grouchily.
I blink in surprise at the tone in Golett's voice. It's literally the first time Golett has sounded unenthused about anything. "Wow, okay, so that's a hard no on the robot thing." I frown. "Alright then, let's try something else…"
I look Golett over, trying to think of what words pop into my mind. Short, round, friendly, cheerful, likes to make sculptures, if the way he's playing with that clay is any indication.
Actually, he kind of reminds me of somebody. A character from a game. "Defender?" I try.
"Go… let?" Golett replies uncertainly.
"Okay, maybe we'll come back to that…" I frown. Defender isn't really a proper name anyways. Though… the character does have another name, hidden in the lore of the game. "Ogrim…"
"Golett…" Golett sounds more thoughtful at that… "Go! Go Golett let go let let Golett?"
"You're interested in that one?" I ask curiously. Golett replies with a nod and I continue. "Okay. So Ogrim is the name of a character from a story I like. He's a knight who wants to protect another knight he's friends with. He's big, and round, and friendly. He's always jolly, even when fighting, and likes to make sculptures." Left unsaid is that the character in question is a dung beetle, and that his sculptures are made of shit. He's still one of my favorite characters in the game, and it's a cool name.
Golett seems to agree, though he might just like the sound of being named after a knight from a story. "Golett! Go Golett!" He exclaims, clapping his hands against his belly excitedly.
"Alright, Ogrim it is!" I grin, happy to have his approval so quickly. "Just you wait little dude, we're going to train you into a big strong hero, just like the knight you're named after. Starting with Bianca's training session tomorrow."
I'm looking forward to a chance to see exactly what the two of us are capable of.
Starter name acquired! Along with what should be most of the major exposition necessary to the story. The tier system is something I've been mulling over for a while now. I don't intend to get all hyper-realistic and edgy like a lot of fics do, but I still feel like realistically there would be more rules to being a trainer than what you see in the games or the anime. Only game I've seen attempt that sort of thing is Sword/Shield, and I was hyped to see that extra bit of thought put into a mainstream Pokemon game. Too bad it fell so short of the mark for me in so many other ways.
Anyways, I hope you all enjoyed the chapter, and that it helped some people start the year off on a good note.
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